Failed smog BIG time...need help

[Viggen]

So, my 95 Disco with an all stock 3.9 just failed smog inspection. Its registration time so I am in need of it to pass to get my little stickers. Its running rich. Not just a little but a LOT. On the bright side, this would probably explain the crappy fuel mileage Ive been getting lately. So, here are the numbers:

HC ppm:
Idle: Limit- 125 Reading- 432 (Go big or go home? They sent me home)
2500: Limit- 125 Reading- 253 (leans out under speed but not nearly enough)

CO%
Idle: Limit- 1.00 Reading- 0.91 (Just barely under the limit so a pass)
2500: Limit- 1.00 Reading- 0.90 (Again, leans out just a little at speed)

Everything else is a pass. The guy looked at the numbers and was astounded and as was I. So, where to begin? O2 sensors Im assuming and thankfully, there are only two of them and not 4 like later Discos. What else could it be?

Im planning on a diesel swap but thats about a month away so I need to get this beast through.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

First question, was the truck, or more importantly the cats, hot? So many cars fail their emissions test because they are brought in cold. Everybody in the know knows what's going on, but it's a quick way to make a buck. They do a stupid repair, drive it around the block, onto the rollers and then get a pass. They did it to my Dad last year.

HC is not necessarily directly tied to richness. Strongly related, but not absolute. So, what was the AFR? They may call it "dilution ratio". Also, what was NOx? If NOx was also high, but just under the limit, it could be your overall catalyst efficiency.

 

[Viggen]

Dilution: 14.2 @ 704 rpm idle and 14.5 @ 2531 rpm speed

They didnt do NO ppm. Only HC ppm, CO% and dilution. The AFR is a little low at speed and low at idle, using 14.7 as ideal. So, cat AND sensors?

 

[timmy!!!!!!!]

Put some new plugs in it and drive it like you stole it to make sure it is good and warm. Then try again.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Dilution: 14.2 @ 704 rpm idle and 14.5 @ 2531 rpm speed

They didnt do NO ppm. Only HC ppm, CO% and dilution. The AFR is a little low at speed and low at idle, using 14.7 as ideal. So, cat AND sensors?

I'd fix the sensors first, then try again, depending on the cost of the test. You need to get it running closer to 14.7 to have any hope. The cats actually want the AFR to be dithering just either side of 14.7. That sends alternating puffs of NOx and CO down the pipe, which the cat eats up and really light it off.

But given your HC is so high with an AFR that isn't that far out... I suspect something else is going on, like a cold engine, or maybe dribbly injectors. Might try running some fuel injector cleaner through it, though I've never had much luck with that.

Yeah, Timmy's suggestion isn't bad. I'd do O2's, plugs, fuel injector cleaner, give 'er hell and take it in hot.

 

[Viggen]

I drove it and got it up to temp before taking it to the inspection. I think Im going to do a tune up with new wires and plugs and then do an oil and filter change and first thing on Monday morning, drive it around to get it up to temp and then take it to the station. Maybe see if I can make an appointment that way its not sitting in line before they roll it in.

You think plugs would do it? I mean, Im REALLY far off.

 

[Viggen]

The thing is, it runs really really well. It doesnt run hot and there is no visible smoke at all. Whenever Ive had a car that ran rich, whenever giving it the beans, its smoked a little black. This doesnt do it. It idles rock solid too.

I sure as hell hope it isnt cat related. It looks like you can only get them with the Y pipe and thats a ton of dough. I would weld some in before I did that. The other thing with this is that I might have the emissions station do the install job. In Va, if youve spent $725 and it still wont pass, theyll automatically pass you for 2 years citing that youve given it a "good faith" try. I really dont want to spend $725 but I just need to get the registration going before I can diesel swap it.

 

[Ronct110]

Yes, do a tune-up.

Like Timmy said new spark plugs, and warm it up before taking it another test drive.

Also check the timing; and use OEM wires, and Champion Rn 11YC4. $1.95 on sale @ Atlantic British this week on your older 3.9 engine.

Big no on those expensive Magnecor wires and Bosch Plat4 plugs on the older LR engine; too much spark; makes it run rich.

Good luck!

So, my 95 Disco with an all stock 3.9 just failed smog inspection. Its registration time so I am in need of it to pass to get my little stickers. Its running rich. Not just a little but a LOT. On the bright side, this would probably explain the crappy fuel mileage Ive been getting lately. So, here are the numbers:

HC ppm:
Idle: Limit- 125 Reading- 432 (Go big or go home? They sent me home)
2500: Limit- 125 Reading- 253 (leans out under speed but not nearly enough)

CO%
Idle: Limit- 1.00 Reading- 0.91 (Just barely under the limit so a pass)
2500: Limit- 1.00 Reading- 0.90 (Again, leans out just a little at speed)

Everything else is a pass. The guy looked at the numbers and was astounded and as was I. So, where to begin? O2 sensors Im assuming and thankfully, there are only two of them and not 4 like later Discos. What else could it be?

Im planning on a diesel swap but thats about a month away so I need to get this beast through.

 

[Maryland 110]

Viggen drive it @ highway speed for a while before going to testing. My old LWB failed in Md. The next morning I added some BG 44k injector cleaner and took it out on Rt. 50 and ran the @#$% out of it and went and retested and passed. I had the cats doing that cooling sound "tink" when I pulled into the test station. The tester just smiled @ me.

Another reason to go Tdi...

 

[Viggen]

I think thats what Ill do. Sunday do an oil and filter change (Ive found that new oil helps sometimes), full tune of cap, rotor, wires and plugs (its a 1995 so can you think of anything else?) and then fill up with premium and throw some injector cleaner in there. Monday morning Ill get up, drive the length of 395 and then pull directly into the bay. If theres a line, Ill sit in the truck and leave it running until its my turn. I would rather spend the money on the 300tdi swap (Im waiting on clarification of the rules in Va as to legality and then its go time) than the V8.

 

[Viggen]

So, heres my position. All of this keeping in mind that I will have a 300tdi swap "kit" for the Disco within a month or so and in to place a week or two later. Im doing fluids, air and oil filters and regular NGK plugs (I dont like Champions) with wires. Im going to fill it up and then run some injector cleaner through it and then drive it for a while to get the temp up and then off the inspection station. This is where the tough decision comes in: In Va, there is a waiver that will automatically be given after a certain amount, in this case $725, is spent repairing emissions equipment. Tough decision? Here it is.
(1) I can do the sensors myself with a couple hours work and about $300 for parts and hopefully it will pass.
(2) I can get the parts and take it to my local Rover shop and they can install for $200 and then hopefully itll pass.
(3) I can spend $750 at the local Shell station for parts and labor on the sensors and then theyll retest it. If it doesnt pass, who cares? I already qualify for the waiver and am instantly issued a 2 year registration. Why only at this place? Because in order for the waiver to be issued, the work has to be done at a "certified emissions repair facility" which most local shops are not.

Why is this an issue? Well, if it turns out that its a combination of sensors and cat converters, I would not have to drop $900+ bucks on converters if I had the waiver. I dont want to spend a bunch of money on the gasser if I dont have to.

So, WWED (what would expo do)?

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Spend the $750 on your diesel conversion parts, and let that be your attempt to fix your pollution problem.

 

[NH Moto Expo]

You could rent a car for a month for less than the $700 if that is all you need to get your diesel conversion done.

 

[Viggen]

I know. $750, or $725 to be precise for the waiver, is a good chunk of change that can be used for the diesel swap. I would be in a rental car for a month and a half probably then. 1 month, max, for the drivetrain to clear customs and duties and all that and be shipped to the shop and then about 2 weeks for install and thats far too much time for me to spend in a rent a wreck really. Two weeks during install, no big deal. A month and a half, thats a little bit too much for me.

The reason why the waiver is attractive, although it is $200+ more than I can install, or have sensors installed by my Rover shop, is because of the question of the catalytic converters. If I spend the money on my own, and it still fails, I have to replace the cats and then Im out at least $1k on top of what I have already spent. If I have this "certified emissions station" install the O2 sensors, and it turns out that the cats need replacing, I wont have to worry about it. If O2 sensors do the trick, yes I spent more to get there than usual but it came with a guarantee of sorts. Its a tough decision knowing that I will be going to diesel soon anyway.

 

[crusader]

Option E: How much is a ticket for driving a non-inspected vehicle?

Also, do they give you a certain amount of time to fix and retest after a smog failure? In my state, they give you 60 days...